Nursery Management: Profile - A true vocation

Susan Moss-Thomas is the ultimate hands-on manager, with a childcare philosophy built on creating close relationships between staff, children and parents. As well as managing Orchard Barns, she oversees the chain's two other settings, Baby Barns and Blossom House. She gives all credit to her staff, saying, 'Any success a manager has must be about her or his staff.'

Her career began in 1988 after she completed an NNEB and an education degree, knowing only that she 'wanted to work with children'.

Susan began work for the county council at a Hertfordshire children's home before taking time off to have her first child. Having established a strong reputation, she was later head-hunted by the council to become manager of its first-ever workplace nursery in County Hall.

Although she had not worked with young children before, Susan soon felt this was her true vocation. 'I seemed to be able to make staff believe in themselves and what we were doing,' she remembers.

The testimonials written by her staff for her Nursery World Manager of the Year award nomination 'made me cry because they were so lovely,' she says. 'I have staff who have been with us since we first started Orchard Barns 13 years ago. Without the normal high turnover, you have time to develop the nursery's policies and procedures and also develop the staff themselves.'

Reflection meetings

The key person system that underpins Orchard Barns' practice was introduced by Susan from the beginning. 'I took up the post after a five-year break, so I did lots of research. I read Dorothy Selleck and became completely hooked on her key person approach. Staff are more autonomous and, as manager, you are no longer responsible for planning all activities, which is really not a very child-centred approach. It has become a very refined system with us.'

This autonomy is backed up by Susan's total trust in her staff's abilities. Weekly reflection meetings involve every member of staff in decisions by allowing them to express their opinions and raise issues. They have evolved to become an essential part of Susan's management practice.

'The staff are allowed to question our procedures and practices. I think that's very healthy,' she says. 'At the reflection meetings even the trainees have a voice, and so all the staff feel valued.'

Now the nurseries are over-staffed on certain days to allow time for personal preparation for these meetings. This system was developed when Susan was completing her Early Years Professional validation pathway.

'EYPS was the best development for me. I have done loads of management courses, but the validation pathway meant really looking at how you personally do things. When you've been managing for a long time, if you never ask questions and reflect, there is not a lot of scope for improvement.'

Two colleagues achieved EYP status alongside Susan. She says, 'The management system that I believe in is one that makes the staff responsible - and this trust and belief brings something out in people. More often than not, they will rise to the challenge.'

Working bond

Her bond with proprietor Anita Huckle formed the basis of Orchard Barns from the start. They immediately connected through their mutual vision for the nursery. 'I was thinking they would pick someone who had been working more currently. But Anita and I really clicked and we make a great team.'

Susan remembers those days as a stressful but exciting time. 'Somehow I got through the first six months, although I didn't sleep a wink! It was a tricky time, pulling all the strings together and being a single parent of young children as well. But this has been the best thing for me.'

The children remain 'the best thing' about the job for Susan. Her daily routine takes her to each of the three settings, and she actually lives at Blossom House. She spends early mornings with the babies at Orchard Barns, has brunch at Baby Barns, and then returns to Orchard Barns to serve lunch to the pre-schoolers and have tea with the two- and three-year-olds. 'Meals are a great time, when I can interact with all the children,' she says.

'This time with the children is very, very important, because I wouldn't feel I was providing the absolute best service unless I was there with them. Small is beautiful! Orchard Barns is set in acres and acres of beautiful countryside. We could have a 200-place nursery, but it wouldn't be part of our vision.'

Susan Moss-Thomas is manager at Orchard Barns Kindergarten in Essex and was the winner of Nursery World's Nursery Manager of the Year award in 2008.

CV

1984: Completed her National Nursery Examination Board (NNEB) qualification

1988: Joined management team at a Hertfordshire children's home

1990: Head-hunted to set up Hertfordshire County Council's first workplace nursery, the Rainbow Nursery at County Hall in Hertford

1995: Set up Orchard Barns Kindergarten with proprietor Anita Huckle

2007: Became one of the first EYPs in the country, together with two colleagues from the group.